Feed-water-heating system.



S. S. LAWSON.

FEED WATER HEATlNG SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 6.19I5.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

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WITNSSES @www S. S. LAWSON.

man WATER HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 6. I9I5. II l Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR SHERMAN S. LAWSON, OF LIMA, OHIIEOF.

i FEED-WATER-HEATING SYSTEM.

Application led January 6, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1, SHERMAN S. LAWSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Feed-Water- Heating Systems, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to feed water heating systems for boilers, particularly to such systems in which water heating pipes are arranged in the path of the products of combustion which go to generate steam 1n the boiler. n

1n water heating systems of the class referred to water is forced into the heating pipes by a pump, injector or other device to be heated Aby the products of combustion before delivery to the boiler. lin these prior heating systems theA water in the heating pipes, however, becomes stagnant as soon as the pump or injector is stopped, that is, there will be no circulation through the heating pipes, and there will therefore' be a sort of geyser action, the steam generated upon intense heating of the stagnant water causing water to be blown out of the heating pipes thus subjecting the pipes to the danger of becoming overheated or burned.

Une-of the importantobjects of my invention is therefore to prevent such overheating of the heater pipes preferably by effecting circulation of the water through the heater pipes when the pump or injector is not operated. in other words, the object is to change the water heater system into an eiiicient steam producing system when the pump or injector is not operated. Another important object of the invention is to automatically change the condition from water heating to steam generating in order that as soon as the injector stops circulation will automatically ystart through the heater pipes and these pipes. become evaporative area for efficient generation of steam, and when the injector is again started circulation will stop and water will be injected through the heater pipes and into the boiler' in the ordinary manner.

Janother object is to provide improved simple and efficient means for automatically controlling the change from one operative condition to another and the means is preferably such that the starting and stopping of the injector will automaticallyput the Specification of Letters Statent.

Patented Dec.. Y, 19915., serial No. 7a4.

iview of the boiler, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism for producing circulation and for controlling the change from water heating to circulating and steam generating conditions or vice versa, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of controlling valve mechanism showing a different position thereof from that shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a boiler showing a modiiied arrangement of the water heater piping and connections.

The hot water heating system shown is Vsubstantially like that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. filed March 7, 1914. rfhe locomotive boiier l0 shown has the iire box 11 and the smoke boX 12 of usual construction, the fire box tube sheet 13 and the smoke box tube sheet 14 being connected by flues 15, the products of combustion passing from the fire box through these fiues into the smoke boX and out through the stack 16. The water heating mechanism shown is in the nature of an attachment which can be readily applied and associated with fines of the boiler. As shown the smoke box is'provided at its opposite sides with openings 17 and 17 through which the two heater sections 18 and 18 are extended. These two sections are exactly similar and each comprises a header 19 extending through the respective opening in the smoke box and from which a pipe loop or loops 20 extends to be associated with the boiler fines. As shown, each header has an inlet passageway 21 and an outlet passageway 22 in whose inner ends 21 and 22 the ends of pipes and extend, these pipes passing through one of the fiues 15 of the boiler substantially full length thereof and being connected together at their inner ends by a fitting 25. iz/later entering inlet passageway 21 of the header will fiow through pipes 23 and 24. and back. through the header outlet pas 'iin

water it will be heated by the flue 15 and in the smoke boX, the heat in thefsmoke box being thus taken advantage of and its waste through the smoke stack prevented. Each header is detachably secured in the opening in its respective smoke boX opening by means of a flange 26 and bolts 27. In the front wall 28 of each header are cleaning openings 29 and 30 in line with the pipes 23 and 24 and detachable plugs 31 and 32 normally close these openings. In the intermediate wall 33 of each header is the opening 34 in line with opening 32 and pipe 34 and is normally closed by a plug 35. In`

the front wall 36 of the smoke box openings 37 and 37 are provided in line with the plugs through which these plugs can be reached and through which suitable cleaning instruments can be inserted into the pipes 23 and 24 when the plugs are removed. The openings are provided with detachable covers 38 and 38. The heater pipes 'can therefore be readily cleaned without removal thereof from the boiler. The pipes are preferably provided with couplings 39 and '40 by means of which the pipes and header may be separated to facilitate installation of the heater sections or entire removal thereof from the boiler.

The inlets 21 of the headers are connected by pipes 41 and 41 with the horizontal section of a T-coupling 42 with the lower end of whose vertical4 section the water supply pipe 43 is connected, this pipe leading from a pump, injector or other water forcing device 44. The outlets 22 of the headers are connectedl by pipes 45 and 45 with valve fittings 46 and 46 which communicate with the water space of the boiler preferably at the same level as shown in Fig. 2. IVhen the pump or injector 44 is operating water will flow into pipe 43 and the fitting 42 and will then branch through pipes 41 and 41 and through the respective headers and heater pipes to be heated and will then flow to the opposite sides of the boiler through valve fittings 46 and 46. To prevent back flow when the injector or pump stops a check valve mechanism 47 is provided in the fitting 42 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

'Ihe system thus far described will operate eiliciently for heating the feed water of the boiler. However, unless preventive means are applied the water in the heater sections will beco-me stagnant as son as the pump or injector 44 is stopped and this water would then be subjected to the intense heat in the flues and the smoke box and there would be a sort of geyser effect. The steam generated would blow water out of the heater sections andthe pipes would therefore be exposed and would be in danger of being overheated or burned. One of the important objects of my invention is to prevent such stagnation and to cause circulation through the pipes as soon as the pump stops. I therefore introduce circulating mechanism designated as a whole C. This circulating mechanism is applied to one of the heater sections and comprises a frame or fitting 48 shown as interposed in the pipe 45 leading from the header 18 to the boiler. A nozzle 49 extends into the fitting 43 in line with the pipe section 45a which connects with the valve fitting 46, and the outer end of this nozzle connects with one end of a valve frame 50 whose other end is connected by pipe 51 with the pipe 43 leading from the injector. The valve frame 50 has the inner and outer valve chambers 52 and 53, the latter being of larger diameter. A valve 54 is adapted toreciprocate in these chambers and has the piston sections 54 and 54h. The inner end of the valve has the conical head 55 for coperating with the valve seat 56 while the plug 57 in the outer end of the frame 50 forms a seat for the piston end 54h. Communicating with valve chamber 52 is a lpipe 58 which is in communcation with the steam supply of the boiler, being preferably connected with the boiler turret. IVhen the valve is in the outer position shown in Fig. 3 its head 55 is away from seat 56 and valve chamber 52 and the nozzle 49 are open to steam flow from pipe 58. Vhen ythe valve is in its inner position shown in Fig. 4 the valve head 55 seats on seat 56 and closes communication between chamber 52 and the nozzle and disconnects the nozzle from the steam supply.

The operation can now be readily understood. The valves 46 and 46 being always open, the entire heater system is under boiler pressure and this`pressure 'exerted against the valve 54 at piston section 54 tends to shift this valve to its outer position shown in Fig. 3. The injector 44 operates, however, at a pressure in excess of the boiler pressure and when it is started the pressure of the water through tap 51 and against the larger diameter piston 54b of the valve will positively and effectively shift this va] ve inwardly to disconnect the nozzle 49 from the steam supply pipe 5S. IVater is then charged past the check valve mechanism 47 through the two heater sections and into the boiler, it being heated on its passage through the headers and tubes. So soon, however, as the injector stops the pressure in pipe 43 drops and check valve 47 closes and the pressure in the heater sections and in valve chamber 52 will prevail and the valve 54 will be shifted to its outer position (Fig. 3) and pipe 5S will be connected with the nozzle through which the steam will flow. The steam will pass out of the nozzle at high velocity and will force the water directly in front of it through the pipe section 45 and valve 46 into the boiler thus reducing the level at niemeer that partv of the water heating system. The pressure at valve 46 will then force/water into the heatersystem to replace the water forced into the boiler by the steam jet, thus creating a circulation. lThe steam jet does not have to suck the wate' around through the heater system but all that it does is to force a little water avay from the nozzle to create unequal pressure at that end of the heating system andthe boiler pressure at the other end of the System will then force the circulation. Thus when the injector stops, circulation is immediately automatically forced through the headers and flue pipes and connections of the heatingjsystem, the system being changed automatically from a feed 'ater heating system to a steam producing system, the water circulating from one side of the boiler through the systeni to the other side to be converted into steam. There is then no danger of overh xating or burning of the heater pipes and the steam producing` eliiciency of the boiler as a whole is increased. dien the injector is started the conditions are automatically 'changed and water is injected into the system to be h aited on its passage through the headers and l'lue pipes before delivery to the boiler. from one condition to another upon stopping or starting of the injector is very simple and reliable and is entirelj7 automatic in its op' eration.

l. do not of coursedcsire to be limited to the precise construction, arrangement or operation shown and described as changes and n'ioditications areno doubt possible'which would still come within the scope of the invention. i

l claim as follows:

l. The combination ot a steam boiler, of a Water loop connected at its ends with the Vwater space of the boiler and having an in- `termediate section arranoed in the )ath of the products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, an injector connected with said loop for forcing boiler feed water therethrough into the boiler, and means automatically controlled upon stopping o'l said injector for positivelyforcing circulation of the boiler water through said loop, said means cllecting' circulation through said loop independently of the normal restricted circulation which might be produced by ditl'ercnces in temperature in the loop.

'the combination with a steam boiler, a water loop connected at its ends with ine watcr space ol the boiler and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of ilus products of coinl'iustion which go to gcncraic steam in the boiler, a water supply conductor connected with said loop and a check valve controlling said connection to admit llow ol water into the loop but to pre- The mechanism for chaneine. 2*) J vent flow therefrom, an injector connected with said water conductor for forcing water through the loop into the boiler, and means automatically controlled upon stopping of said vinjector' for positively forcing unequal pressure in the loop and thereby pronounced and continuous circulation of boiler water through said loop.

.3. The combination with a steam boiler, of a water loop connected at its ends with the water space of the boiler and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of the products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, a water supply conductor connected with said loop and a check valve controlling said connection to admit liow of 'water into the loop but to prevent l'low therefrom, an injector connected with said water conductor for forcing water through the loop into the boiler, and means automatically controlled upon stopping of the injector for positively reducing the level of the water at one end of the loop to thereby -ause continuous circulation of boiler water through said loop.

4:. The combination with a steam boiler, of a water loop connected at its ends with the water space of the boiler and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, an injector connected with said loop for causing parallel flow of water through the ends thereof into the boiler, and means for forcing` pronounced and continuousserial circulation of boiler water through said loop when said injector' ceases to operate.

5. Thecombination with a steam boiler,

of a water loop having its ends connected with the water space of the boiler and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of. the products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, an injector for injecting water through said loop into the boiler, and means autonnitieally controlled upon stopping of the injector for positively forcing unbalance of pressure in the. loop to cause pronounced circulation of boiler 'ater therethrough.

(l. rllhc combination with a steam boiler, of a Vater loop connected at its ends with the water space ot the boiler, and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of the products of combustion which go to gei'ierate steam in the boiler, a water supply conductor and a eheclr valve controlling its connection with said loop, an injector connected with said water supply conductor for forcing water therethrough into the loop and into the boiler. a water circulation torc- .ing device interposed in said loop and eongenerate steam in the boiler, an injector con-- nected with said loop for forcing Water therethrough into the boiler, a circulating device connected with said loop for forcing circulation of boiler water therethrough, means controlled by the feed water pressure for rendering said circulating device inoperative when the injector is operating, and means controlled bythe boiler steam pressure for rendering said circulating device operative when the injector is not operating.

8. The combination with a steam boiler, of a Water loop having its ends connected with the Water space of the boiler and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of the products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, an injector connected with saidloop and with a source of water, a circulation forcing device connected with said loop, and valve mechanism controlled conjointly by the injector pressure and the boiler steam pressure t0 cause said device to become inoperative when the injector is operating and to cause said device to-become operative as'soon as the injector stops.

9. The combination with a steam boiler, of a water heating system comprising water conductors arranged in the path of the products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, a water forcing device for forcing feed water through said conductors to be heated therein before delivery to the boiler, and mechanism for forcing pronounced circulation of boiler water through said heating system when said Water forcing device ceases to operate whereby to convert said heating system into an elicient steam generating system, y

10. The combination with a steam boiler, of a water loop having its ends connected with the water space of the boiler and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of the products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, an injector for injecting feed water through said loop into the boiler, and means automatically controlled upon stopping of the injector for injecting steam into said loop to thereby effect imbalance of pressure therein and forced circulation therethrough of the boiler water.

11. The combination with a steam boiler, of a water loop having its ends connected with the water space of the boiler and having an intermediate section arranged in the path of the products of combustion which vgc to generate steam in the boiler, an injector for injecting feed water through said loop into the boiler, a Water circulating deineens? vice interposed in said loop near one of its connections with the boiler, and means whereby ysaid circulating device is controlled when the injector stops to continuously displace the water insaid loop to cause pressure unbalance and circulation of water through the loop and the eliicient generation of steam therein.

l2. The combination with a steam boiler, of a loop connecting at its ends with the boiler below the wat-er level therein and subjected at an intermediate'section to the. products of combustion which go to generate steam in the boiler, an injector for forcing water through said loop into the boiler, a circulatingdevice connected with the loop at one end thereof, and means automatically controlled upon stopping of the injector for causing said circulating device to force water from the corresponding loop end into the boiler whereby to etl'ect difference in pressure at the loop ends resulting in circulation of boiler water through the loop.

13. The combination with a steam boiler, of a loop connecting at its ends with the boiler below the water level therein and subjected at an intermediate section to the prod'- ucts of combustion which go to generate Steam in the boiler, an injector for forcing water through said loop into the boiler, a

circulating device connected with one end of the loop, and means conjointly controlled by the steam pressure of the boile and the water pressure from the injector for disconnecting said circulating device from service when said injectoris operating and for automatically connecting the circulating dovice for service when the injector stops and for then causing continued forcingr of water into the boiler' from the corresponding end of the loop to thereby effect difference in pressure at the loop ends resulting in continued circulation of boiler water through the loop.

14. The combination with a steam boiler, of a loop connecting at its ends with the boiler below the water level therein and subjected at an intermediate section to the prod- 'of the housing being connected to be subjected tosteain pressure from the boiler. the arrangement being such that the water pressure will shift the valve to disconnect tho steam supply from the housing when the injector is working to thereby render the. nozzle ineffective and the steam pressure mozos? l will shift the valve to connect the nozzle with the steam connection when the injector stops Whereby steam will then be projected into the corresponding loop end in the dif rection of its connection with the boiler to continuously force Water through the loop end into the boiler to thereby cause difference in pressure at the loop ends resulting in' circulation of boiler Water through the oop.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand-this 2nd da of J anuary, 1915.

SHER N S. LAWSON. Witnesses:

E. H. LAWSON, CHALMERS S. BROWN. 

